Espanyol faces a match marked in red on the calendar, in search of a victory that has eluded them since last November 26 against Alcorcón (2-0) and a sporting revenge after the defeat in the first leg against Villarreal B ( 3-1).
Falling against the yellow reserve team was a hard blow for the blue and white club. The locker room itself has recently confessed that it was one of the worst games of the season. Beyond making up for the setback, the three points are key for a team that aims to regain credit and not distance itself from the top zone.
Fourth in the table, three points from direct promotion, the change of coach, with the dismissal of Luis García and the arrival of Ramis, has not represented the turning point in results that the Spanish sports management led by Fran Garagarza was looking for.
While the club studies its transfer options in the winter market, the focus tomorrow will be on the Cornellà pitch, where Espanyol has only lost one game (Leganés, 0-1) and receives a rival, who, with six points at home, he is one of the worst visitors in the competition.
The parakeet coach, Luis Miguel Ramis, will be able to count on all his players except for midfielder Nico Melamed. The youth squad underwent shoulder surgery and is progressing correctly, although he is not yet exercising with the rest of his teammates.
Villarreal B will take to the field forced to improve their performance as a visitor to avoid falling into the relegation zone, from which they are just one point away.
The people from Castellón are going through a difficult time, as they have suffered three consecutive defeats away from home and lost at the home of bottom team, Gartagena, 4-1.
Furthermore, Miguel Álvarez’s team does not have a good competitive level as visitors, since they have only had three draws and one victory in all the games played away from La Cerámica.
Álvarez, who was convinced of the options of beating a rival whom they defeated with solvency in their stadium, will continue without being able to count on the long-term injured Hugo Pérez and will also not have Adrià Altimira and Ilias Akomach, who have settled in the first team.
Defender Stefan Lekovic can be added to them this time in first team dynamics.
Spanish: Pacheco; Omar El Hilali, Sergi Gomez, Calero, Olive; Water, Exhibit Edu, Pol Lozano; Puado, Mile, Braithwaite.
Villarreal B: Iker Alvarez; Lanchi, Espigares, Pablo Íñiguez, Tasende; Alberto Del Moral, Carlo Adriano, Javier Ontiveros, Rodri Alonso; Alex Forés, Jorge Pascual.
Estadio: Stage Front Stadium.
Referee: Sánchez López (Murciano Committee).
Time: 18:30 CET.
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